Chain stores have expressed fears that moving a Christmas fair to a high street location could hit business at a key trading time.

Major retailers in Llandudno’s Mostyn Street are worried that relocating the resort’s annual event from Madoc Street could cut their takings at a time of year when they normally cash in on the Christmas shopping boom.

Edward Hiller, managing director of landowners Mostyn Estates Ltd, which owns the freehold of many of the properties in Mostyn Street, said shop managers have expressed their fears to him.

“For the High Street multiples, the weeks leading up to Christmas are absolutely vital in helping balance weeks when trade isn’t so brisk,” he said.

“It is essential that Mostyn Street is open for trading at all times during that period.

“These large stores are paying high business rates and they are the life blood of the town centre,” he said.

The proposal to move the fair from Madoc Street has come from its organisers, the Llandudno Development Partnership, who want to expand it. They say Mostyn Street would offer more space.

Last year around 30,000 people were estimated to have attended the November event in Madoc Street, and there were over 100 stalls, as well as live entertainment on a stage between two marquees.

And in the large marquees and log cabins dotted along the street there were stallholders from all over the UK, including traders from the Conwy Valley, Anglesey and along the North Wales coast.

With plans to build on this success, the Partnership is thinking of moving the event to a section of the resort’s Mostyn Street which will allow room for more stalls.

Spokesman David Williams said the Partnership sees the fair as an attraction which can grow year on year to attract shoppers to the town in the run-up to Christmas.

“We are considering moving it from Madoc Street to Mostyn Street in 2014 or 2015 because we need to grow it and build on the success achieved so far.

“We want to put on more entertainment and broaden the whole event out to widen its appeal. However, nothing has been decided yet, we are still in the process of gauging reaction to the idea,” he said.

He has given a presentation to the town council who welcomed the proposal, which would see a section of Mostyn Street between the junctions with Gloddaeth Street and Clonmel Street closed to traffic.

But Mr Williams stressed that this year’s event, which is being held from November 21-24, will be staged in Madoc Street.

However, Mr Hiller feels traders in both Madoc Street and Mostyn Street will lose out if the event moves.

“It has been beneficial to Madoc Street in that it attracts people there who might not otherwise realise what it has to offer.

“But siting it in Mostyn Street and taking away parking spaces there will only have an adverse effect on stores like Marks and Spencer,” he added.